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BA

Anthropology and Sociology BA (Hons)

Have you ever wondered how society shapes the way we live? With the Joint Honours degree in Anthropology and Sociology you'll develop an understanding of humans as social and cultural beings.

How to apply Apply via UCAS

Course details

Start date

Degree Type

BA

UCAS Code

LL36

Course length

3 years full-time

Typical offer

AAB

Tuition Fees

  • Home (Full-time): per year
  • Overseas (Full-time): per year

Overview

Anthropology and Sociology are naturally complementary fields of study due to their common emphasis on understanding humans as part of wider cultural and social groups. This degree combines modules from the BA Anthropology and BA Sociology degrees providing a comprehensive understanding of humans as social and cultural beings. Based around a central core of theory and methods, the degree is highly flexible, allowing you to choose subjects across both disciplines. The course emphasises the application of theory and concepts to real-world cases. You will carry out a supervised research project and you can choose to take a placement with a local community organisation and make use of your knowledge in an applied setting.

Course details

Start date

Degree Type

BA

UCAS Code

LL36

Course length

3 years full-time

Typical offer

AAB

Tuition Fees

  • Home (Full-time): per year
  • Overseas (Full-time): per year

What you'll study

In the first year of your degree, you will receive a thorough grounding in the theory and practice of Anthropology and Sociology in the broadest sense. The second year will develop your understanding of key issues in anthropological and sociological theory and research. At this stage you can also apply to add a placement year or a year abroad to your degree, increasing the course from three years to four. In your final year, you will design and carry out your own dissertation project in Anthropology or Sociology.

Optional modules

  • In recent years optional modules have included: Doing Anthropological ResearchSocial Research MethodsPeople and CulturesClassic Sociological TheoryHealth, Illness and SocietyHuman Evolution and DiversityBeing Human: An Introduction to the History and Practice of AnthropologySocieties in TransitionIntroduction to Criminological TheoryCritical Scholarship in the Social Science.

Optional modules

  • In recent years optional modules have included: Research Methods in ActionBiology, Culture and SocietyMarkets and ExchangeRitual, Religion and BeliefRelations and BelongingPower and InequalityMind and CultureHealth and InequalityEnvironment, Climate, and the AnthropoceneCommunities and Social JusticeCrime, Power and Social InequalitiesModern and Contemporary Sociological TheorySelf, Identity and SocietySociology of EducationViolence and Abuse in Society

Core modules

  • Dissertation

    In your final year, you will design and carry out a Dissertation. Your dissertation is an excellent opportunity to develop expertise in a topic of personal interest or relevance to a future career area.

Optional modules

  • In recent years optional modules have included: Anthropology, Art, and ExperienceSocial Anthropology of HormonesAnthropology of Ethics and MoralityAnthropological Skills for Climate Change SurvivalViolence and MemoryPower and GovernanceDecolonising AnthropologyForensic AnthropologyFood Security, Nutrition, and Sustainable LivelihoodsDrugs and SocietyGlobalisation and the Sex IndustrySociology of Mental Health and IllnessThe Body as Data: Technology, Power and Human RightsYouth in Crisis: Young People, Crime and Justice

Learning

Your learning will be supported by a variety of teaching formats, such as lectures and smaller-group teaching in seminars and practical classes. You will have the opportunity to study through applied research, as part of the residential Anthropology Field Course module and/or as part of the Research Methods in Action module. In Year 3, you will undertake a dissertation with one-to-one staff supervision to guide you through the process of creating and writing up a research project.

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Assessment

We use a wide range of assessments designed to provide training in a variety of academic and broader transferable skills, including not only 'traditional' essays and exams but also research projects, popular academic writing and outreach activities. In your final year you will have the chance to design and carry out your own research project for your dissertation, with support and guidance from your supervisor.

Entry requirements

Fees & Funding

Choose which fees you want to see:

Home / Island students

per year

International / EU Students

per year

Home / Island students

Part Time - per year

International / EU Students

Part Time - per year

The tuition fees shown are for one complete academic year of study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and remain the same throughout the duration of the programme for that cohort (unless otherwise stated).

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Department Information

  • Join a dynamic and welcoming Department that takes a distinctly broad-based approach to the study of humanity. We are among the largest Anthropology departments in the UK with around 110 students in each year group, and one of the few to combine social, biological and medical aspects of Anthropology. This gives you the chance to explore humanity from multiple perspectives, covering our species' evolution over millions of years up to the present day diversity of human societies. You can choose from one of three single-honours programmes or combine Anthropology with Sociology, Psychology or Archaeology as a joint-honours degree. You can also study Anthropology as part of an even broader degree programme including Liberal Arts, Natural Sciences or Combined Honours in Social Sciences. Since Anthropology is such a broad subject, it works just as well as a single honours programme or combined with other subjects. Our lecturers are passionate, dedicated teachers and researchers, and our modules cover a huge diversity of topics, including culture, environmental issues, evolution, genetics, forensics, literature, health, music, politics, primate behaviour, religion, reproduction, skeletal anatomy and many others still. And with a research-led approach, our teaching is constantly evolving to incorporate the latest findings into the curriculum. Our flexible courses offer the opportunity both to explore the breadth of Anthropology and to specialise in one of our sub-disciplinary areas. For more information see our department pages.

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    Facilities

    We are based in the Dawson Building, conveniently located next to the main library, and close to lots of other departments and university services. We have a common room which students are welcome to use for studying and socialising. The Department’s research facilities include skeletal, fossil cast and material culture collections available for students to use as part of their learning activities and research projects. We also house a number of research centres and laboratories including an Infancy and Sleep Centre, a Physical Activity Lab and an Ecology and Endocrinology Laboratory which is equipped to analyse human samples.

    • Material culture collectionThe department houses an extensive collection of material culture objects from around the world which are actively used in both research and teaching of ethnography.

    • Durham Infancy and Sleep Centre

      The centre is home to a team of researchers who investigate the behaviour and physiology of infant, child and adult sleep, as well as night-time parenting, infant feeding, and other infant and child health issues.

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  • The field of Sociology helps us to understand the ways in which human behaviour is shaped by the way we think, feel and respond to different social settings. Our courses apply sociological theory to the issues that affect our daily lives from education, work and families to crime, physical and mental health, and culture. Sociology at Durham will help you develop a deeper understanding of yourself, others and the world around you. Learning takes place in the Department of Sociology, a dynamic learning and research community of students and staff. We take a research-led approach to learning which means that courses are informed by subject specialists who contribute to shaping society through their innovative, socially conscious research. We offer a BA in Sociology or a joint honours degree in Anthropology and Sociology, and students on the BA Education Studies or the BA Combined Honours Social Sciences can choose sociology modules as part of a broader social sciences curriculum. You will also benefit from hands-on work placements, community-based modules and international study opportunities. Whichever route you travel, flexible pathways can be chosen to suit your interests and career goals. For more information see our department pages.

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    Facilities

    The Department of Sociology is located at Old Elvet, near the medieval Elvet Bridge, and within easy walking distance of the Students’ Union, University Colleges and Durham’s historic centre with its Castle and Cathedral. Our buildings includes a student common space and networked computer access for our students to use.

    • Bill Bryson library

      Durham University library is one of the best in northern Britain and is well resourced with books, eBooks and journals supporting all of our areas of study.

    • Virtual learning

      We make extensive use of Learn Ultra, the University’s virtual learning environment, and teach in facilities across the whole Durham campus.

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Career Opportunities

Of those UK/EU students who graduated in 2022/23:

87%

are in paid employment or further study

97%

of those are in highly and medium-skilled employment.

£32,500

is the average salary.

HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey. The survey asks leavers from higher education what they are doing 15 months after graduation. Further information about the Graduate Outcomes survey can be found here www.graduateoutcomes.ac.uk

Employability

With a degree in Anthropology, you will be equipped with a diverse and practical knowledge base, including highly transferable skills in research and communication. Employers worldwide value this skill set, particularly where creativity, curiosity and the ability to understand human diversity are at a premium. Our graduates apply their knowledge directly in fields as diverse as health, community work, conservation, education, international development, culture, and heritage. Many progress into careers that require a broad understanding of human society and behaviour as well as the interpersonal, organisational, problem solving and independent thinking skills that come with the discipline. Such careers include advertising, publishing, journalism, teaching, human resource management, law, consultancy and marketing. A significant number of graduates progress onto higher level study with many pursuing further research in anthropology or other fields.

More Information

With an anthropology degree our students acquire a fascinating and useful knowledge base, as well as an unusual mix of intellectual and practical skills.

What can I do with an Anthropology degree?

Your next steps

Apply via UCAS

  • Institution code: D86

  • UCAS code: LL36

Apply now

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